Stump-burner.



0. SMITH.'

STUMP BURNER. APPLIO'A TI OK FILED MAY 9, 1911.

PatentedJune 24, 1913. I v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. J I

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ATTORNEY mum PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTDN. I). c.

- 0. SMITH. STUMP BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1911.

Patented June 24, 1913- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. C ark 5/21/17? I A T TOHNE Y COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00.. WAYSHINGTON. D. c.

UNETED TATF PATENT @FFKQF.

CLARK SMITH, OF MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY L. REYNOLDS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

STUMP-BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 9, 1911.

Patented June 24, 1913.

Serial No. 626,047.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK SMITH, a c1t1 zen of the United States, and resident of the city of Mount Vernon, in the county of Skagit and State of Washington, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Stump-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for burning out stumps, the same being, for brevlty, called stump burners, and comprises the novel parts and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to prov de an apparatus which may be used to fac1htate the removal of stumps and like woody masses by fire.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in forms which are now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a preferred form of my device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the hood member of the same form of device showing the side which, when in use, is toward the stump. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of said hood. Fig. 4 is an end view of a preferred form of construction of the flue member. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of another form of my invention, the same being a form which is preferred when the stump is to be attacked from the top. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the form of device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows the burning end of the air blast pipe in a form which is preferred, particularly when means are employed to hold said end against the burning face. Fig. 8 shows my device, in the form shown in Fig. 1, in use upon a stump, the burning being in its earlier stages. Fig. 9 shows the same device and stump at a much later stage in the operation.

It has been an object of my invention to produce a device which may be cheap in first cost, simple and durable in construction, of light weight and therefore readily handled under the conditions existing in land being cleared, and which may be operated without any attendant expense for material to produce or assist combustion.

The central and most essential principle employed in the design and operation of my device may be briefly stated as the employment of a pre-heated air blast directed upon the burning face of the stump, combined with means whereby the heat of the gases is used to produce the air blast. Supplementary to or associated with this, is the control of the fire so as to produce a combustion chamber within the body of the stump, whereby the heat of combustion is conserved and applied to dry out and clear the stump ahead of combustion, and conditions resembling those existing within a gas producer are attained. As a result of these conditions secured and principles em ployed, I am able with my device to remove stumps more economically than would be possible by any other means now known to me or practised by the public.

In the analysis of my device it is found to consist essentially of a gas discharge flue, which, in part at least, serves as a draft inducing fiue or stack, and an air-blast or supply pipe which extends through the hot gases, whereby the air supply is pre-heated, and whereby the air supply may be controlled in its point of application, thereby controlling the location of the most active combustion and therefore the point and direction of extension of'tlie burnt chamber. I am therefore able to burn a hole into a mass of wood, such as is represented by a stump, to any distance and in any direction desired, and to control the enlargement of this chamber in location and amount at will, thus consuming the entire interior of the stump before permitting the fire to break out through its walls. 7 i A preferred form of my device is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. This consists of a flue l which occupies an approximately horizontal position when in use, a draft inducing flue 4 which is connected with flue 1 and extends upward to produce a draft, and the air-blast pipe 2. The exact form of 0011- struction of these parts may be widely varied, the principle involved and their method of use remaining the same.

The essential of the flue 1 is that it constitutes a flue extending in the direction in which it is desired to sink the hole and form the combustion chamber within the stump, and that means be provided for attachment thereto of the stack, with reasonable tightness, so that the suction draft produced by the use of the stack may be communicated, without too much loss, to the combustion chamber.

The flue 1 may be a plain round pipe, or it may be made as shown in Fig. d of two sen'lieylindrieal sections 10 having side flanges or ears 11 bolted together. In cross section this flue may be of any shape desired, the only essential being that it form a passage of suitable area to convey the gases from the combustion chamber to the stack.

The stack lmay be connected with the flue 1 in any manner which makes a suitably tight connection. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4t this is done by means of a hood 8 which has an opening 32 in one side, next the bottom, which sits over the end of the flue 1. In line with this it has a smaller opening 33 adapted to receive the air-blast or supply tube 2. I have shown this hood as composed of two parts joined by bolts passing through flanges 31-. The lower end 30 is shaped to form an extension of the flue l, and the upper part 31 rounded to receive the stack 4. I have also shown it as provided with a damper 5 having a handle 50 outside the hood, whereby the intensity of the draft may be controlled. I have also shown the bottom of the hood as open and provided with flanges for resting upon the ground.

The air-supply or blast pipe 2, need be but a small percentage of the area of the flue 1. It should, however, be much longer than flue 1, as it is at one stage in its operation extended from the inner end or" the flue clear across the stump. As the stumps upon which it is intended to use this device are sometimes of great size, sometimes ten to fifteen feet across, this pipe may at times be twelve to twenty feet long, whereas the flue 1 need seldom, if ever, be over about three feet in length, and may at times be less than this. This air supply or blast pipe 3 need be only a plain pipe, although at times it may be desirable to have its inner end notched, as shown in'lTig. 7, so as to provide side discharge openings which will be free when the end is crowded against the burning face. This air supply pipe is preferably straight, whereby it serves as a means for visually inspecting the progress within the combustion chamber without disturbing any part of the apparatus. Ti henever desired, however, this pipe may have its inner portion curved. To better enable this pipe to withstand the intense heat to which it is subjected, it may, with advantage be made, in whole or in part, of cast iron, or have an inner end section of cast iron. I have found by experience, that a wroughtiron or steel pipe is liable to burn out and break off at its inner end.

The device above described would be used after the manner shown in F S and 9. The flue 1 would be placed with its inner end, that is the end removed from the hood, in close contact with the face of the stump,

as shown in Fig. 8. To do this it may be desirable to excavate a small amount of the earth, enough to embed it securely in place, and preferably at a slight angle. The position and location of this flue would vary under difl'erent conditions and is a matter to be decided by good judgment guided by experience. The hood. or stack base 3, is then placed over the outer end of the flue 1, and the stack t placed upon the hood. The air-blast pipe 2 is then insertei andits end brought close up to the face of the stump. A fire is kindled within the inner face of the flue 1, that is, against the face of the stump. This lire may be made by using any convenient combustible. Dry wood or charcoal, if available, is a good. and satisfactory material. If available a shovel full of burning coals is excellent for starting the fire.

When the fire has been started, the in nor end of the flue 1 should be covered with earth, so as to form a closed chamher next the stump, or of which the stump forms one wall. The only air which can reach the tire must then come through the air supply pipe 2 and the gases of combustion must pass out through the flue 1 and the stack 4-. In operating this device 1 usually prefer to slightly cover the flue l and the base of the hood or stack base 3, with earth, thereby closing all air inlets and also reducing the radiation of heat. As the face of the stump within the chamber formed by the flue 1 becomes ignited, the air supply or blast pipe 2 is forced up into engagement with this burning face, whereby the air is directed upon this burning face and naturally causes the most rapid combus tion close to the pipe 2. As a consequence of this the most rapid enlargement of the chamber is in the direction of the axis of this pipe, and if it is kept pushed up against the face at all times, a hole will be rapidly burned into the heart of the stump. In Fig. 8 I have indicated by the dotted line A, the outline of this hole after it has become well started.

After the hole has become well started I prefer to push the flue 1 and the whole device somewhat inward, or toward the stump, as has been indicated by the position of the parts in Fig. 9. The object of this is to get the inner end of the flue 1 far enough inward to prevent the earth which is used for covering the flue, from running over and filling the inner end of the flue. If the earth is of a suflicient clayey character so that it bakes, this may not be necessary. After this adjustment of the position of the flue has been made, there is no necessity for further movement thereof, unless it is desired to change the direction of sinking the hole C, or to hasten the action of the fire upon some point not in line with the flue. In case this is desired, the direction of the fiue may be changed at any time. Care should, however, be taken that the outer end of the combustion chamber C, be kept sealed, except for the inlet and outlet provided by the devices, until the chamber C, has been sunk and enlarged to the desired extent. hen this point has been reached, the device may be withdrawn and the fire allowed to extend throughout the base of the stump. The rapidity, direction and extent of this action may be largely controlled by judgment in treating the stump, as by banking in or covering, opening the discharge, providing draft inlets, etc. If intelligently treated the entire stump, even into the roots, may be entirely consumed.

In Fig. 9 I have shown, by the full lines, the hole or chamber 0, as extended well across the stump. The air-supply or blast pipe 2 is extended to the inner face of this chamber. If this pipe were withdrawn somewhat, then the chamber would enlarge laterally more than it would lengthwise.

The air supply or blast pipe 2, should be freely movable within the fiue 1, so that itmay be advanced as the chamber is extended into the stump. This advance of the pipe may be done manually by frequent visits. I have, however, shown a means whereby this may be automatically done. This consists in passing a cord or chain 7 about an elevated guide or pulley 70, and then about a guide or pulley 71 located close to the flue and connecting its end, as by a hook 7 2, with the outer end of the pipe 2. The elevated pulley may be supported by a post 6. which may be stayed from the stump. On the end of this cord or chain is secured a box or bag, 73 which may be filled with earth, thereby producing a pull upon the pipe which will keep it at all times in contact with the burning or bottom face of the chamber C. There are many other ways in which the same result may be accomplished. I have shown that described only as an illustration of one way which is preferred because of its simplicity and effec tiveness and because it may be universally employed with common materials.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of device which is especially adapted for attacking the stumps from the top. This device is, in principle, the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In this the flue 1 and stack base or hood 3, are combined in one, forming a chamber 8, of an ofi -setor elbow shape and provided with a broad base 80 adapted to rest upon and be secured to the top of the stump. This base has a central hole 81 which leaves a portion of the stump top exposed. Immediately above the hole 81 is a hole 82 through which the air supply or blast pipe 2 may be inserted. This hole 82 may be made much larger than the pipe 2 and be provided with closing plates 83, removable so as to provide a larger opening to the interior of the member 8 whenever desired, as in starting the fire. In such case the plate or plates 83 should have a hole for the accommodation of the pipe 2. In Fig. 6 I have shown two plates 83 pivoted at Set and swinging outward. The upper end, 85, of the member 8 should be shaped to receive the stack or draft inducing flue 4, and may be provided with a damper 5. In using this form of my device, it is placed upon a stump top, secured in place, as by a few nails, and then a fire started within the member 8. The pipe 2 being put in place, concentrates the burning effect upon the exposed part of the stump, tending to sink a hole therein, after the manner indicated by the dotted lines B. As the hole B is sunk, the pipe 2 drops, thus keeping its end always in contact with the bottom of the hole and causing a rapid sinking. This device is, in principle, the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, but adapted in form to suit it to the different method of use. In both cases the air supply or blast pipe passes through the hot escaping gases, the flow of air being opposite in direction to that of the escaping gases, and the air is therefore intensely heated before being delivered to the burning face.

The air supply or blast pipe often, in fact quite generally, becomes red hot. With the air supply passing through from three to twelve feet, or even more, of red hot pipe, it becomes intensely heated and the combustion is correspondingly intense. As the heat produced by this combustion is confined within a chamber formed within the body of the stump, the heat is conserved and applied to dry out and distil the body of the stump, and also to dry out the surrounding soil.

To make a complete burn of the stump which shall include the roots, it is desi gable that the combustion be retarded toward the last of the process, thus giving time for the heat to extend outward and thoroughly drv out the roots and their surrounding soil before the fire is permitted to break through about the stump. If the progress of the burning has been nicely gaged, slight cutting about the base of the stump will drop the top into the pit, resulting in an intensely active fire which will consume the roots and top.

It is evident that this device may be applied to the burning of logs or any other woody masses which it is desired to get rid of. It is not essential to successful operation, that the stump be dry. It may be burned with this device, even if very wet, although the rapidity of the operation is lessened thereby. At times in its operation the bottom of the hole has been burned through into cracks which have been filled with water, which water could be seen discharging into the hole, in such quantities as to put out the fire at this point. The fire at other points has however continued and this water been evaporated, the bottom face relighted and sinking of the hole continued.

The labor of starting one of these devices is but slight, as is also the attendance required to keep it going satisfactorily. One man may readily attend to twenty at one time.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A stump burning device comprising a fine forming member adapted to be placed with one open end against a face of the stump and with its axis extending away from the stump, a draft-inducing stack adapted to be connected with said flue back from the end which is next the stump, an air supply or blast pipe adapted to be placed within the flue and movable lengthwise therein, said air supply or blast pipe being" of a length permitting the projection of its inner end beyond the inner end of the line.

2. A. stump burner comprising a line forming member adapted to be placed with one end opening against the face of a stump, a draft-inducing stack, a stack-base adapted to connect said fine and stack to form a continuous and closed flue, an air supply or blast pipe, the stack base being provided with an opening for the passage of said air blast pipe and said. air blast pipe being of a length greater than the tine permitting its extension through said flue and beyond its inner end, and means for controlling the draft within said tlues.

3. In a stump burner, in combination, a hollow member having an open side and adapted to be placed with its open side against the stump to therewith form a closed combustion chamber, a draft inducing flue connected with said chamber, an air supply or blast pipe adapted. to be passed through said chamber to the face of the stump, and means for automatically feeding said air supply pipe up to the stump the latter burns away.

at. In a stump burner, in combination, a hollow member adapted, in conjunction with a part of the stump to form a closed COlllbllS tion chamber, an air supply or blast pipe,

and means for feeding the air supply or blast pipe up to the face of the stump as the latter burns away.

5. it device for use in burning stumps comprising a member adapted to form a gas discharge flue leading away from the stump, a draft-inducing stack connected with said flue, an air-supply or blast pipe longer than and passing through said flue to the face of the stump, and means for automatically feeding said air supply pipe forward as the stump burns away.

6. In a stump burning device, the combination with an air supply or blast pipe and a draft-inducing stack, of means for auto matically feeding said air sijipply pipe forward to keep its end against the burning face of the stump. I

7 in a stump burner, in combination, a gas-discharge flue adapted to be placed with its burning end against the face of the stump, a hood or stack-base adapted to lit over the other end of the flue and provided with a stack connection and an opening for the air supply or blast pipe, a Cl1LIfll-l11(lll(iing stack, and an air supply pipe adapted to pass through said stack base and the fine to bring its burning end in close proximity to the stump,

8. In a stump burner, in combination, a gas-discharge flue adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position with its open burning end against the face of the stump, a hood or stack base adapted to receive the discharge from said flue and having a stack connection and an opening for the passage of the air-supply or blast pipe, a stack adapted to connect with said stack-base, an air supply pipe adapted to pass freely lengthwise within said stack-base and flue and to project its burning end well beyond the ends of said fine, and means for autoinatically feeding said air supply pipe forward to correspond with the burning away of the stump in front thereof.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto atlixed my signature at Mount Vernon, l i ashingtcn this 17th day of April, 1911.

CLARK SMITH.

ll itnesses 1,

lV. L. Paonann, Jeanna nouns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

